Rail-joint.



C. W. YERBURY.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1911.

1,083,769. Patented July 23,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 2 20 a I .5 [1/24 E 10 C. W. YERBURY.

} RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION-FILED NOV. 4, 1911.

1,633,769; Patented July 23,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A J: Wm-588E856 5m .wiwnnnnmfilil z 56 W (7260265 11 15/610 fl 7 IATTORNEYS CHARLES 'W. YERBURY, 0F SPBJN'GFIELD, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 19112.

Application filed November 4, 1911. Serial No. 858,497.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. YER- BURY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of 1 {each of theplates is removed as at 10, whereby pockets are formed, which pockets, iwhen the plates are in the position shown in Fig. 2 are adapted toreceive the web and j the bottom portion of the meeting ends of F therails. The lower side walls of the pock- Eets in the plates form, inefi'ect, shelves on which the bottom portions of the rails rest Sangamonand State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Rail-Joint, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates generally to a rail 'oint and, more particularly toa fish plate, adapted for use on steam, electric and elevated roads, orin mines or quarries, or in fact in any place where a construction isrequired to hold rails together for tractive service.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved structurespecially adapted to holding adjacent ends of meeting rails, thearrangement being such that no bolts or equivalent devices arenecessary.

A further object of my invention is to provide a structure of thisclass, which by reason of the arrangement of the parts is well adaptedto hold the meeting ends of adjacent rails in position and insulatedfrom the roadbed, thereby facilitating the operation and maintenance ofsignal systems, which make use of the rails as parts of the circuit.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear asdescription further proceeds, the new and novel results being set forthin the appendant claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views and in which Figure 1 1s a sideview of the preferred form of my invention, operative position; Fig. 2is a vertical sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a side View of thelocking devices; Fig. 4 is an end view thereof; Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional view of a modified form of plate; Fig. 6 is a bottom planview; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form ofplate; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view thereof; and F 9 is a sectional viewof the locking devices showing a modified means for spreading them.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the adjacent ends of two railsare designated 1 and 2 respectively, the fish plates being indicated at3 and 4t. The plates are preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 2, thelower outer ends of the plates being adapted to be supported in asuitable tray 5, having shouldered sides 67, the tray being secured on ai tie 8, by any means, such as spikes 9.

An intermediate portion of one side of substantially throughout theirwidth. The lower portion of each of the plates along the bottom sidethereof is preferably removed as at 11, whereby the plates restat theirouter edges, providing for a firmer engagement of the parts when a trainis passing over the rail, since the downward pressure on the top of therail serves to bring the upper portion of each of the plates into firmerengagement with the rail.

The construction which I have set forth is well adapted to provide forinsulation of the rails and to this end I have shown suitable insulatingmaterial 12, extending'along each side of the web and around the bottomportion thereof, which insures no electrical contact between the railsand the plates.

In order to firmly secure each late in position on opposite sides of therails, I provide suitable locking devices, shown particularly in Figs. 3and 4, to be positioned in the pockets 10, the sides of the plates beingprovided with openings 13, whereby the locking devices are madeaccessible. These locking devices are made up of two elements 20-21, theopposite ends of each element being of unequal dimension as shown at22-23 in Fig. Extending throughout the length of each of the elements2021 and along the central portion thereof, are cooperating parts, madeup of a wedge 24 on the part 20 and a groove or slot 25 on the element21; each side of each of the elements is provided with a series ofrecesses or notches 26, which, when the elements are in operativeposition, are located as shown in Fig. 3. Since each of the elements ishigher at one end than at the other, the combined lengths at each end,however, being equal, they will provide a wedge-like action when asuitable key is inserted in the recesses 26, whereby when the key isturned, the elements will move longitudinally of each other, therebycausing them to firmly grip the inside top portion of the plate 3 Y andthe top of the bottom of the rail 2 as shown particularly in Fig. 2.

With the construct-ion thus defined, it is obvious that the tray 5 whichis secured to the ties, determines the position of the plates 3 and theplates firmly engage the opposite sides of the rails, holding theserails in position with ample space for expansion and at the same timedoing away with the necessity of bolts and providing a joint that willbe substantially noiseless. 4

The construction which I have shown is capable of some modification invarious parts and in Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a joint involving aslight departure. In this case each of the plates 3 is provided with apocket or recess 10*, which pockets receive the elements of the lockingdevices previously described, the departure residing in the form of thebottom portion of each of the plates. The plates are positioned withrespect to each other and are held against movement, by making thebottoms thereof inter-locking, or as shown in Fig. 6. In thisconstruction, each plate is provided with an extension 41 and also witha recess 42 of substantially the same dimensions. as the extension andadapted to bereceived thereby, all of which is shown in this figure' Byreason of such construction and interengagcment of the parts, the twoplates are held rigidly with respect to each other and the engagementwith the rail is insured.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown a further modification. 3 have acontinuous bearing surface for the rail as shown'in Fig. 7, thedeparture residing in the fact that the interior of the pockets 10 issuch that the whole width of the bottom of the rail is in engagementwith the bottom of the plates, whereby a construction is afiorded whichmay be better adapted for certain classes of heavy traffic. In order toinsure that the plates 3 will be inter-locking and held in closerelation with each other, as well as with the rail itself, the bottom ofeach plate may be provided with a plurality of projections 41, adaptedto engage in similarly formed recesses 41, whereby the inter-engagementlof the recesses and the projections will accurately determine theposition of the plates.

Instead of using the particular form of locking elements shown in Fig.3, a modified construction thereof which is shown particularly in Fig. 9may be utilized. In this instance the purpose of the locking elements isthe same as that previously set forth, namely to cause a firm engagementbetween the inside of each pocket and the bottom of the rails, whichengagement is brought about by the binding of the locking elementsbetween these parts. In Fig. 9, the locking elements 50 5l, are eachprovided In this instance the plates with tapered, threaded recesses52-53, the outer ends of each of which communicate with suitablerecesses 54:. A tapered looking screw 55 having a squared outer end 56adapted for engagement with asuitable wrench or key is positioned ineach pair of recesses, the engagementof the key with the outer end ofeach screw and .the turning thereof, bringing the screw farther intoeach pair of recesses, thereby causing the elements 5051 to be movedapart and into firm frictional engagement with the inside of the plateand the bottom. of the rail.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it w1ll be clear that I have set forth a structure welladapted to perform the functions set forth, the size and shape of theseveral parts bemg largely a matter of design, these features bemgcapable of change in order to adapt the construction to differentlocalities and uses.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A construction of the class described embody ng aplurality of plates adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of themeet mg ends of rails, means for securing the plates n' position on atie, together with a plurality of longitudinally slidable locking meansengaglng the plates and the rail for holding the parts together, thelocking meansbeing positioned on opposite sides of the rall.

2. A construction of the class described comprising a pluralityof'plates l1aving open ngs in the sides thereof adapted to be positionedadjacent the meeting ends of rails, means for holding the plates inposition on a t e, and slidable locking means positioned adjacent eachplate and one side of the rail for holding the parts together, the saidopening affordlng the entrance for a suitable key 111 the operation ofthe said means.

3. construction of the class described comprising a plurality of plateshaving pockets in one side thereof, the said plates being adapted to bepositioned adjacent the meeting ends of rails and on opposite sidesthereof, means for securing the plates to a tie or other support,together with a plurahty of locking means positioned within the pocketsand engaging each plate and the sides of the rail whereby the parts areheld together.

4. A construction of the class described comprising a plurality ofplates, each plate having a pocket in one side thereof, the plates beingadapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the meeting ends of rails,means for securing the plates on a tie or other support, together wit-ha plurality of longitudinally slidable locking means positioned in thepockets and engaging one side of the pockets and opposite sides of therail whereby the plates are held in frictional engagement with the rail.

5. A construction of the class described comprising a plurality ofplates, each plate having a pocket in one side thereof, an opening inthe side of each plate communicating with the pocket, the plates beingadapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the meeting ends ofadjacent rails, a locking device made up of two elements movablelongitudinally with respect to each other, a locking device beingpositioned in each of the said pockets, each locking device beingoperable by means of a key or wrench inserted into engagement therewiththrough the said openings in the sides of the plates, the elements ofthe said device engaging the side wall of the pocket and one side of therail whereby the parts are frictionally held together.

6. A construction of the class described comprising a plurality ofplates having pockets therein, the pockets being intermediate the topand bottom of the plates, the plates being adapted to be positioned onopposite sides of the meeting ends of rails, together with a lockindevice positioned in each pocket, each device beingmade up of twoelements movable longitudinally-with respect to each other, the saidelements in' locked position engaginga side wallof each pocket and oneside of the rail, thereby holding the parts together by frictionalcontact.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. YERBURY.

Witnesses:

ALBERT L. Soon I CARLISLEY G. BIBRMAN.

